DURHAM, NC (WTVD) — Descendants of what was once one of the largest plantations in North Carolina respond to the crowd racist text messages sent to African Americans across the country the day after the election.
Beverly Evans, 76, recently learned that she is a descendant of the Suitts, a family that was once enslaved. Stagville Plantation. The Durham resident walked around the grounds as ABC11 held onto a walnut that fell from a nearby tree.
She summarized the racist text messages: “We need to send the slaves back to their plantations.”
She said this kind of thinking was offensive and wrong.
“The people who received the messages felt disrespected and it made us as black people feel disrespected,” Evans said.
The investigation between the FBI and the Department of Justice continues many people across the country received text messages references to slavery.
A Durham mother told ABC11 her son received a message telling him to report to Stagville Plantation.
“We don’t back down anymore. We don’t get intimidated anymore. Those days are over,” said Ricky Hart, a descendant of the Hart family who was also enslaved in Stagville. “They can try intimidation or the fear factor, but that’s not going to work anymore.”
His family lived in the Hart House for many generations during and after slavery was abolished. Both descendants know that their ancestors are long gone, but will continue to honor the signs of their existence and legacy, such as the walnuts that fall from the trees on the property.
“It’s a symbol of their strength,” Evans said.
The North Carolina Department of Historic Sites released this statement to ABC11:
It has come to our attention that some North Carolina residents have received alarming text messages referring to Stagville State Historic Site, a former plantation. North Carolina Historic Sites condemns these acts designed to sow fear and division by weaponizing history. Stagville is a sacred space for visitors to grapple with the history of slavery, emancipation and injustice. We will cooperate with law enforcement in investigating these hateful and deceptive messages.
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